Elite Tiger Cavalry
CavalryBase values, before Blacksmith upgrades. The Blacksmith raises attack and armour for infantry, cavalry and archers — Blast Furnace, for instance, gives "+2 Attack for infantry & cavalry". Late in a game, the real numbers are higher.
Evolution
Tiger Cavalry
Castle Age Elite Tiger Cavalry
Imperial AgeThe coach's briefing
Commander, the Elite Tiger Cavalry becomes even more deadly against archers. With 125 HP and 13 attack they hit hard, and their +7 bonus lands on Archers. The 5 pierce armor makes them nearly immune to archer fire. Use Elite Tiger Cavalry to erase enemy ranged lines - no archer wants to see them coming. They are the ultimate anti-archer cavalry.
STRONG AGAINST
You win these trades cost-effectively.
WEAK AGAINST
Avoid these fights or bring support.
Prepare your next matchup
Choose both civilizations for a game plan, key threats and an army composition.
Strategic Analysis
Tactical Identity
Elite anti-archer specialist with enhanced armor
Tactical Playbook
Archer Annihilator
+7 vs Archers means Elite Tigers demolish enemy ranged lines. Arbalesters fall in two hits.
Archer Immunity
5 pierce armor means even Arbalesters deal minimal damage. Chase archers freely.
Archer Dominance
In archer-heavy games, Elite Tigers are unmatched. Force opponents off ranged units or watch their shooters evaporate.
Critical Point
Still 0 melee armor. Halberdiers and infantry remain deadly. Never fight Pikes without support.
Understanding The Stats
Elite upgrade provides +15 HP, +2 attack, +1 archer bonus, and +1 pierce armor. A significant improvement across all stats.
Elite Attack
Strong attack with devastating archer bonus
Supreme Pierce
5 pierce armor grants near-immunity to archers
More HP
15 more HP for extended survivability
Same Speed
Mobility unchanged for pursuit and flanking
Coach's Tip
125 HP is tanky but 0 melee armor means Halbs still hurt. Your job is killing archers, not tanking infantry.
Mechanics & Bonuses
Attack Bonuses
| Target | Bonus Dmg |
|---|---|
| Archer | +7 |
Armor Classes
Cavalry
Takes heavy bonus damage from Pikemen/Halberdiers and Camels.
Unique Unit
Vulnerable to units with bonus damage vs this class.
Key Upgrades
Feudal Age
Castle Age
Civilizations
* 1 civilizations have access to this unit.
AoE Coach analysis
Context & meta
The Elite Tiger Cavalry is the Wei unique Cavalry: 60 food and 80 gold, 18 seconds to train, 125 HP, 13 attack, 0 melee/5 pierce armor, speed 1.35, and line of sight 5. When it defeats enemy military, it gains HP and attack, according to the official help. The same help calls it exceptionally strong against Ranged Soldiers and weak against the Spearman-line. It is tagged Cavalry and Unique Unit and carries +7 against Archers. It is a snowball unit with a clear condition: the first kill improves the next fight, so denying that first kill matters more than trading one body at a time.
History & balance
The Elite Tiger Cavalry belongs to the Wei cavalry identity, where economic tempo and durable mounted pressure reinforce one another. Wei receive one free Villager for each researched economic upgrade, gain +20% then +30% HP for Hei Guang Cavalry and Xianbei Raiders in Castle and Imperial Age, and make Traction Trebuchets and Lou Chuans 25% cheaper. The team bonus gives Cavalry +2 attack against Siege Weapons. The Tiger itself keeps its 60-food/80-gold cost and 18-second train time, then adds a kill-based reward that makes a successful Wei attack compound. It is strongest when the player chooses fights that guarantee a military target without feeding the first unit.
In pro play
Use Elite Tiger Cavalry with a kill plan. At 1.35 speed, 125 HP, and 5 pierce armor, the unit can reach ranged positions, but 80 gold makes random contact a bad investment. Focus one Ranged Soldier, Siege Weapon, or exposed support unit, secure the first military defeat, then immediately use the extra HP and attack to switch targets. Keep the group together so one Tiger can be screened while another takes the finish; do not let a wounded unit chase alone. The 18-second train time supports a rolling pressure wave, and Wei economic Villagers keep that wave growing, but only if the player refuses fights that offer no safe first kill.
How to counter it
The classic mistake is letting Elite Tiger Cavalry farm Archers one by one and create its first permanent power spike. The official help gives the category: Spearman-line. Halberdiers carry +32 against Cavalry and Pikemen +22. Place them between Tigers and ranged targets, focus the same Tiger until it falls, and never donate a low-HP military unit that can trigger the reward. The goal is to deny the kill condition, not chase 1.35-speed cavalry. If you keep losing to Elite Tiger Cavalry without knowing what to produce or when, AoE Coach reads your match-up and gives you the counter composition and timing.